The Rev. Peter R. Vaughn was a Presbyterian pastor for 36 years, retired, and was ordained by the Anglican Church in North America on May 21, 2012.

Vaughn, who prefers to be called "Father Peter," serves as vicar at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Silvis, and at Holy Trinity Church of the Anglican Diocese of Quincy, Geneseo, and added that, with the dual charge, he is responsible for all aspects of the life and ministry of these two congregations.

His journey from the Presbyterian Church in America to the Anglican Church began when Vaughn and his wife, Linda, moved to the Quad Cities in 2009.

He was headmaster of Morning Star Academy, a classical Christian school in Bettendorf, Iowa. Because there was not a church of his denomination in the area, he began attending Christ Anglican Church, Moline, where he taught Sunday school, adult education and filled in at the pulpit at times.

When Vaughn reached age 65 and retired from his post at Morning Star, he was encouraged to serve the Anglican Church.

"I was retired and was told there was work to be done in the church," he said. "I feel like I've come home. I feel more congenial with and connected to the Ethos (culture) of the Anglo-Catholic Church."

Looking to the future, Vaughn said, "At some point in time, I can imagine teaching at Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya. I have visited there and taught summer term classes in philosophy and Bible at the university. Our son and daughter-in-law are Bible school professors and have served in Africa."

In addition to serving as a Presbyterian pastor, Vaughn has been a teacher and headmaster in classical Christian schools since 1981 — at high school/elementary schools in Newark, N.J.; Mesa, Ariz.; Colleyville, Texas; Lyon, France; and most recently

in Bettendorf.

But he did not see himself as a pastor in his youth, he said.

"Since college, I have been interested in philosophy, theology and psychology. Every organization, club or church I've been part of has chosen me to be a teacher/leader."

Vaughn wanted to be a university professor, but said, after seven years of resistance, became an ordained Presbyterian pastor."

He was raised in what he described as a "strong Christian family."

"I did get tired of going to church, and I did not like the music. I am a musician and I did not like the church music," he explained.

As a college student at the University of Texas, Vaughn said he was "influenced greatly by the writings of theologians Francis Schaeffer, John Stott and J.I. Packer. That influence continued through graduate school and seminary. I got to know them and many of their disciples."

He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, Austin; a master's degree from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.; a master of divinity and doctor of ministry from Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.; and post graduate studies at Princeton Seminary, Princeton, N.J.; Universite Lyon Deux, Lyon, France, and post and at Nashotah House, Nashotah, Wis.

Page 2 of 2 - He and his wife have two daughters, Eleanor Vander Hart of Moline, and Katharine Blackwell of St. Louis; one son, Peter DeLong Vaughn of Chattanooga, Tenn., and five grandchildren with another expected in January.

In his position of ministry, he finds it rewarding "to equip and encourage people to use the gifts God has given them to serve others."

He leads Mass at St. Mark's in Silvis at 9 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday; and leads Mass at Holy Trinity in Geneseo at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday.